eagerly, crying, "God for
ever bless your honour, I am your name-son, sure enough--but what of
that? I can earn my bread without being beholden to any man."

When the knight raised him up, he turned to the woman of the house,
saying, "I want to see mother. I'm afraid as how times are hard with
her; and I have saved some money for her use." This instance of filial
duty brought tears into the eyes of our adventurer, who assured him his
mother should be carefully attended, and want for nothing; but that it
would be very improper to see her at present, as the surprise might shock
her too much, considering that she believed him dead. "Ey, indeed,"
cried the landlady, "we were all of the same opinion, being as the report
went, that poor Greaves Oakley was killed in battle." "Lord, mistress,"
said Oakley, "there wan't a word of truth in it, I'll assure you.--What,
d'ye think I'd tell a lie about the matter? Hurt I was, to be sure, but
that don't signify; we gave 'em as good as they brought, and so parted.--
Well, if so be I can't see mother, I'll go and have some chat with Suky.
--What d'ye look so glum for? she an't married, is she?" "No, no,"
replied the woman, "not married, but almost heart-broken. Since thou
wast gone she has done nothing but sighed, and wept, and pined herself
into a decay. I'm afraid thou hast come too late to save her life."

Oakley's heart was not proof against this information. Bursting into
tears, he exclaimed, "O my dear, sweet, gentle Suky! Have I then lived
to be the death of her whom I loved more than the whole world?" He would
have gone instantly to her father's house, but was restrained by the
knight and his company, who had now joined him in the kitchen.

The young man was seated at table, and gave them to understand, that the
ship to which he belonged having arrived in England, he was indulged with
a month's leave to see his relations; and that he had received about
fifty pounds in wages and prize-money. After dinner, just as they began
to deliberate upon the measures to be taken against Gobble, that
gentleman arrived at the inn, and humbly craved admittance. Mr. Fillet,
struck with a sudden idea, retired into another apartment with the young
farmer; while the justice, being admitted to the company, declared that
he came to propose terms of accommodation. He accordingly offered to ask
pardon of Sir Launcelot in the public papers, and pay fifty pounds to the
poor of the parish,